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President Barack Obama's Inaugural Address by David Bergman

By:David Bergman (DavidBergman) on January 20, 2009
Tags: david , bergman , washington , dc , president , barack , obama , inauguration , inaugural , capitol , address

I made this Gigapan image from the north press platform during President Obama's inaugural address at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC on January 20, 2009. It's made up of 220 images and the final image size is 59,783 X 24,658 pixels or 1,474 megapixels.

There are a few known stitching errors in this image. A NEW VERSION of the photo with most of the stitching errors corrected can be seen here:
http://www.gigapan.org/viewGigapan.php?id=17217

** PRINTS OF THE NEW VERSION ARE AVAILABLE:
http://www.ObamaGigapan.com

For more information and to get on my mailing list, send a blank email to:
pano (at) davidbergman (dot) net

Date Taken: January 20, 2009
Date Added: January 22, 2009
Bookmarked: 143 times
Total Views: 10581511 views
Snapshots: 2531
Size: 1.47 gigapixels
Field of View: 194.2 degrees wide, 80.1 degrees high
Stitcher Notes: view


comments
January 22, 2009 11:59 Flag as inappropriate

WOW

Posted by payam195r
January 22, 2009 13:27 Flag as inappropriate

This is an extraordinary GigaPan and should become very visible to anyone looking at the most popular GigaPans. It really is nice!

Posted by Texas_Photo
January 22, 2009 17:53 Flag as inappropriate

Mahalo David, a GREAT gigapan.

Posted by Apapane
January 22, 2009 18:21 Flag as inappropriate

Nicely done. I have emailed this link to more than 50 of my friends! Thanks for sharing this!!!

Posted by stlbluesaddict
January 22, 2009 19:08 Flag as inappropriate

Destined to become a Top Ten GigaPan for a long time. It sure isn't easy to get a crowd this size (and this interesting) to sit this still for a GigaPan every day! Great timing too, David. Surely this isn't your first GigaPan - show us some more of your GigaPanning work!

Posted by rschott
January 22, 2009 19:47 Flag as inappropriate

A classic. Best use of a GigaPan to date. I also have emailed this link for others to see and enjoy. Thanks for the photo. Great inspiration. John Post

Posted by John Post
January 22, 2009 23:42 Flag as inappropriate

Talk about capturing the moment Great job David!!

Posted by logdoggy
January 23, 2009 02:21 Flag as inappropriate

This is a great panorama. I really enjoyed exploring all of the facial expressions of people that I recognize. You can explore this gigapan for a long time. Thank you :)

Posted by Castillonis
January 23, 2009 11:04 Flag as inappropriate

Wow... there is so much going on here, and so many people, at such a historic event. Probably one of the best Gigapans ever.

Posted by mcmillen
January 23, 2009 13:28 Flag as inappropriate

Amazing! Great shot, 45,000 views and the #1 GigaPan in 1 day!!! Congratulations... David and America!!! 2,000,000 hits in 6 days?!?

Posted by Jason Simpson
January 23, 2009 14:08 Flag as inappropriate

This is a really great example of how NASA technology is being applied. The technology for gigapan came from the rovers currently on Mars. Read about it at: http://www.sti.nasa.gov/tto/Spinoff2008/ch_2.html

Posted by dcomstoc
January 24, 2009 01:35 Flag as inappropriate

Thanks so much for sharing your hard work. It's great!!! Can't wait to send this to everyone. Loved the captions and was fun to comment. Most excellent. One last word...Clarence Thomas. ok, 2 words.

Posted by lkr675
January 24, 2009 04:24 Flag as inappropriate

Congratulations, David; this is a stunning result.

Posted by bloggerheads
January 24, 2009 12:32 Flag as inappropriate

Excellent...this one will be talk about for years!

Posted by n1ti
January 24, 2009 12:47 Flag as inappropriate

You made it on digg.com!

Posted by mruiz
January 24, 2009 17:28 Flag as inappropriate

Excellent!!! - I'm thrilled GigaPan was at the inauguration!

Posted by stever
January 24, 2009 18:48 Flag as inappropriate

Amazing. MY FAVORITE & BOOKMARKED!!! What wonderous things we can do with technology and cameras. I think it's genius.

Posted by JanBlom
January 24, 2009 20:02 Flag as inappropriate

Many people don't realize the amount of work and processing that goes into a gigapan like this. They are getting more popular and when done properly like this it really captures a moment that a viewer can encapsulate themselves with. Well Done! Cheers Bill Bailey

Posted by NodalNinja
January 25, 2009 04:34 Flag as inappropriate

great pics. thanks for sharing history.

Posted by 4tonianne
January 25, 2009 12:07 Flag as inappropriate

Fantastic!!!!!!!! Congratulations for the photo

Posted by elizabethpv
January 25, 2009 13:48 Flag as inappropriate

Exceptional view, we will share this will all the students, facility and alumni of The University of Obama. President Lincoln Morro

Posted by LincolnMorro
January 25, 2009 17:01 Flag as inappropriate

Can't believe I can almost see myself.

Posted by ktafel
January 25, 2009 17:14 Flag as inappropriate

Why does Aretha have a beard ?

Posted by mopey
January 25, 2009 19:37 Flag as inappropriate

great!!

Posted by milton
January 25, 2009 20:52 Flag as inappropriate

towards the base of the media tower, by the fence.. floating legs lol

Posted by watford
January 26, 2009 02:50 Flag as inappropriate

wheres waldo?!

Posted by nsloan1234
January 26, 2009 02:54 Flag as inappropriate

Can you all see Justice Clarence Thomas??? WTF?? It's shameful...

Posted by ark
January 26, 2009 14:17 Flag as inappropriate

Very good place to make a gigapan, but this gigapan could be better.

Posted by astrorek
January 26, 2009 15:40 Flag as inappropriate

Anyone notice Obi Wan Kenobi in the crowd, a few rows behind the Justices? Also on the same side, front row of the top section on the left, next to a gentleman in a wheel chair there seems to be a guy that looks a little out of place.

Posted by pboud
January 26, 2009 16:09 Flag as inappropriate

Using the gigapan technology at such an important moment in history, and capturing with it such a rich source of interesting detail, viewers can now zoom into, is simply amazing. I wish GeoEye/CNN (http://edition.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2009/44.president/inauguration/mall.satellite/) would publish their "half-meter resolution" satellite image as Gigapan as well. Another interesting perspective of this event is captured with the help of Microsoft's photosynth technology: http://edition.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2009/44.president/inauguration/themoment/.

Posted by udo.dengler
January 26, 2009 17:31 Flag as inappropriate

Bush - gotta love him - he still can't figure out how to get to the Internets from his Crackberry...

Posted by moruibin
January 26, 2009 18:33 Flag as inappropriate

Hi, I just wanted to mention that this technology is so good that if you zoom in on Bush, he is not holding a cell phone or blackberry or anything else. He is clapping his hands. Look closely, what looks like a cell phone is actually his thumb on his left hand as he claps. This technology is great, but we all still have to pay close attention to what is there

Posted by Bertman007
January 27, 2009 08:58 Flag as inappropriate

Thanks for such a great GigaPan. I have email it so others may view it.

Posted by ecwill
January 27, 2009 09:27 Flag as inappropriate

Im not sure but take a look at Clarence Thomas it looks like he is sound asleep?

Posted by pigfree
January 27, 2009 10:43 Flag as inappropriate

I found me in the crowd! Yippee! What amazing technology! Great Job David!

Posted by ClaraKCMO
January 27, 2009 10:51 Flag as inappropriate

Justice Clarence Thomas IS NOT ASLEEP! Can you possibly imagine what this man went through for all the years of his life, and enduring all the negative effects of segregation, and all that he has seen and experienced, and at this precise moment in history when segregation was thrown out the door forever and the victory of Civil Rights is now assured and that some are suggesting that he is asleep is to me insanely ludicrous. Is it not possible for someone to be caught up in events such as what Justice Thomas is or was experiencing on this very historic day, to close his eyes, bow his head and reflect upon how great this country is and will continue to be? Of all the people we see in this scene, I assure you that the one hearing President Obama the loudest and clearest and feasting on every word being said is Justice of the Supreme Court, Clarence Thomas.

Posted by Texas_Photo
January 27, 2009 12:31 Flag as inappropriate

Amazing !!!

Posted by Naresh
January 27, 2009 13:43 Flag as inappropriate

George H W Bush has easily the second best hat behind Aretha's.

Posted by moiety
January 27, 2009 17:15 Flag as inappropriate

Check out President Bush. What is that he is holding?

Posted by JAM21
January 27, 2009 17:35 Flag as inappropriate

It's not so much as what President Bush is holding but rather what is his wife Laura Bush doing? She's smiling while taking careful aim, with something under her blanket, at her husbands back!

Posted by NodalNinja
January 27, 2009 18:29 Flag as inappropriate

I can't believe I am behind that tree!!! Ahhh man!! This truly is an incredible picture!

Posted by EveHallowsAll
January 28, 2009 07:45 Flag as inappropriate

No Words to say. Mind Blowing. Coooooool....

Posted by Ravishankar
January 28, 2009 13:35 Flag as inappropriate

This is so cool. I found myself. I have sent this to a lot of people that were not able to be there. This rocks. Just beautiful!

Posted by stardust
January 28, 2009 13:37 Flag as inappropriate

I have some similar panorama photos from the Inauguration available at http://www.travelswithcal.com/deepzoom/obamainauguration/ These photos require the Microsoft Silverlight browser plugin (similar to the Adobe Flash plugin which you surely already have). Just click through until it is installed (takes only a minute) and then refresh the page. These photos include shots taken on the day before and the day after as well as on the day of the inauguration. Scenes show the crowds celebrating at the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial as well as at the Capitol.

Posted by CalSchrotenboer
January 28, 2009 14:58 Flag as inappropriate

snapshots 17 to 25 bigfoot would not miss the inauguration :)

Posted by pek88
January 28, 2009 23:42 Flag as inappropriate

Dick Cheney looks like Dr. Strangelove

Posted by ofan
January 29, 2009 00:10 Flag as inappropriate

Congratulations, David; this is a stunning result.

Posted by sivayerramsetty
January 29, 2009 02:32 Flag as inappropriate

WoWW its extrordinary

Posted by charas100
January 29, 2009 03:21 Flag as inappropriate

awesome

Posted by gmrao
January 29, 2009 07:18 Flag as inappropriate

Superb David..Great work..CONGRATULATIONS from all the Indians.. Simply Awesome.....I loved the technology....

Posted by Radhika
January 29, 2009 08:04 Flag as inappropriate

Hello David uncle , its really great gigapan , i appreciate your great work ,

Posted by mohit
January 29, 2009 10:54 Flag as inappropriate

Interesting to note that Aretha Franklin had a better seat than the top military in attendance. Makes our brave fighting men and women understand real fast our new President's priorities. BTW he skipped the ball to honor the Medal of Honor recipients, first President to ever do that.

Posted by vstarhiwayman
January 29, 2009 13:14 Flag as inappropriate

its really good work , forwarded to my friends

Posted by saritha
January 29, 2009 15:04 Flag as inappropriate

Wow, nice shot! Looks like you even caught Clarence Thomas snoozing away behind Obama!

Posted by ANTHONYMANN
January 29, 2009 17:17 Flag as inappropriate

The reason that Aretha Franklin had a better seat was because she was in the program... top military were not asked to sing,so, they sat in the back! AND if you read this, http://www.clevelandleader.com/node/8666, it makes clear that President Obama's absence was understandable and that there were no hard feelings.

Posted by Texas_Photo
January 29, 2009 20:34 Flag as inappropriate

As a photographer, my admiration of the photograph, your strategic position, the technique, and the awareness of such a technique leaves me at the brink of jealousy. Fantastic job!

Posted by Leon P. Sealey
January 30, 2009 00:41 Flag as inappropriate

David uncle ,its an extraordinary ever seen Picture,congratulations

Posted by Mohit Madhav
January 30, 2009 01:24 Flag as inappropriate

Why is Clarence Thomas sleeping? Look, about for people behind Obama.

Posted by Noir
January 30, 2009 04:27 Flag as inappropriate

People, please! Clarence Thomas is not sleeping. This is a composite. You may notice other people with their eyes closed. This is because it is a mix of moments. During the praying many people had their eyes closed. This is a composite of many moments. Take a closer look and you can see. Fantastic job! The best I've seen! Ellison Horne

Posted by ellisonhorne
January 30, 2009 10:33 Flag as inappropriate

I'm sorry, but Aretha's participation is not as large and the mere presence of our military leaders. She should have been given a seat of honor for her participation , but the seating is a very subtle expression of the new Commander and Chiefs priorities. Quote from the Cleveland paper reporting the absence of Barack from the Salute to Heroes Inaugural Ball: Instead, Barack Obama chose to be in the company of Kanye West (who said he hates America and is moving to England), Beyonce, Jay-Z, Kid Rock, Stevie Wonder, Mary. J. Blige, Usher, Faith Hill, Alicia Keys, Adam Levine, Shakira, will.i.am, Samuel L. Jackson, Sting, Mariah Carey, Leonardo DiCaprio, Sheryl Crow and Marc Anthony, amongst numerous other celebrities in attendance at the balls he did appear at. Barack Obama made a monumental mistake in declining to attend the Salute to Heroes Inaugural Ball in favor of rubbing shoulders with celebrities. While the American Legion states that they do not feel snubbed or offended, plenty of America's citizens and servicemen are. He is my new President and I support him, just want to know how I feel. I don't expect anything in return for my service as a disabled Vietnam Vet, just want to know my President is looking at the big picture, something our last President and Congress failed to do.

Posted by vstarhiwayman
January 30, 2009 11:35 Flag as inappropriate

This is fantastic. Thank you for an incredible capture of history.

Posted by juliasweeney
January 30, 2009 19:06 Flag as inappropriate

Can any one explain how this ghostly person is created or is it a real Ghost? :O I am talking about the image close to the lamp post on the right of Obama ( as If obama is looking over his right shoulder ). You have to Zoom in to the lamp post to see this. This ghostly man image is the one close to the lamp post. He is the one looking away from obama. I know these can be created with technology, but this has no image distortion where his missing part of head supposed to be :O Interesting or Scary ?

Posted by ghostly
January 30, 2009 19:51 Flag as inappropriate

What lampost are you talking about ghostly? I can't find it. how far away from Obama is this thing ?????????

Posted by stardust
January 30, 2009 20:54 Flag as inappropriate

I think I see the "ghostly" image Ghostly speaks of. Apparantly during the stitching process that goes on in making a gigapan, the software merges a large number of photos together. Eliminating a seam between each picture makes a soft edge and it seems part of an image in one photo interfered with an image in another. Boo

Posted by Leon P. Sealey
February 2, 2009 08:38 Flag as inappropriate

anyone found mccain

Posted by kentewing
February 2, 2009 17:25 Flag as inappropriate

The area above the big lens labeled "AP" on the far left is intentionally blurred out. Who is sitting there that we're not allowed to see, and why??

Posted by magic79
February 2, 2009 23:11 Flag as inappropriate

Alien looking thing on head of guy small balconey above bottom center flags just above band my pic Grandpajim "What is it"

Posted by Grandpajim
February 3, 2009 01:05 Flag as inappropriate

Regarding the blurred area behind AP lens. Not a conspiracy. This is a function of the GigaPan system/field of view and depth of field. The photo is a composit eof 1400 individual photos taken from a zoomed in point and shoot camera. The field of view may only be a few degrees. In the case of the area behind the AP lens, that is the entire field of view of that shot. The focus appears not to be preset at infinity, and in THAT one image (out of over a thousand), the object in the foreground caught the focus, and therefore the objects (people) behind are not in focus. This is actually a good pickup, as it shows a sharply delineated rectangular area that represents the field of view of one shot. If you print the image out and trace the rectangular area, I would imagine it would be 1/1400 of the entire image.

Posted by drscott
February 3, 2009 09:49 Flag as inappropriate

You should see the guy under the tower directly in front of the president... all he has is legs! :)

Posted by alsicorp
February 4, 2009 03:00 Flag as inappropriate

I hate to rain on everyone's parade, but despite the fact that it has tremendous pixel dimensions, the image quality is pretty awful - high noise, blurry, terrible definition of detail (this is not the same as having a lot of pixels and simply capturing detail). Not to criticize the photographer - its a great photo, but just speaking to the technology. Bigger is not necessarily better. I would take a 6x17cm panoramic film photo taken with an old Fuji rangefinder and its spectacular lenses anyday. You can drum scan a 6x17 at 8,000 dpi and get a file that's 18,000 x 53,000 pixels, and still have gorgeous image quality. Yes, it would 'only' be 954 megapixels... I think this technology will become far more useful when it can accomodate DSLR cameras with high quality lenses.

Posted by bceugene
February 4, 2009 04:55 Flag as inappropriate

Found a flaw in this otherwise magnificent photo. Ghost pic of a woman. Perhaps because of stitching? http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashkapur/3253021780/in/set-72157613341556228/

Posted by ashishkapur
February 4, 2009 05:39 Flag as inappropriate

This is Amazing!!!!!!!

Posted by adityarishi
February 4, 2009 13:51 Flag as inappropriate

i think its quiet reasonable that the Soundman has 4 arms - there is no other way to control that many knobs and faders ;)

Posted by Kabelstapler
February 4, 2009 14:12 Flag as inappropriate

whats with the guy thats missing half his head and is at 2 places at once?

Posted by exmarron86
February 4, 2009 14:52 Flag as inappropriate

I wonder how they got an exemption from the Fire Marshall (joke).

Posted by jmccallum
February 5, 2009 16:20 Flag as inappropriate

This is the kewlest thing I've seen since the Mars Rover pan.... Thanks for taking this shot. "I can see myself" Search for 'Chandler' or 'MEM' in the Purple section.

Posted by mikelpc
February 10, 2009 23:05 Flag as inappropriate

Amazing......photographs, Congrates

Posted by asnawale
February 10, 2009 23:42 Flag as inappropriate

Great work, Really nice.

Posted by vipinhse
February 11, 2009 03:39 Flag as inappropriate

Great pic of Obama's inaugural.

Posted by Jimbo
February 12, 2009 03:44 Flag as inappropriate

There is a Lady Behind OBAMA with red Scarf The Guy Standing next to him has 4 EYES .... Is This a Mistake Or Error....... What Is That ???? Can Any One Tell ...... Beside This The SNAP is A WOW ..... AMAZING.... SUPERB.....

Posted by mayurkdave
February 12, 2009 04:42 Flag as inappropriate

Seen a comment by Mr.Mayur Dave. There are more problems same as pointed out in his comment. Go to the 4th row behind where Mr.Bush is sitting. There ia a man sitting with two partial heads. Same row extreme left, a lady with beard. Anyway I am not an expert in this technology. Even then I think all these problems are happend due to the superimposing while mixing the photos.

Posted by vipinhse
February 13, 2009 16:45 Flag as inappropriate

I should have added this comment weeks ago- we recorded a gentleman in South Africa singing a song he wrote in honor of Obama's inauguration: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KptWE5Zp0S8

Posted by illah
February 15, 2009 19:30 Flag as inappropriate

What is the dodgey President off Clear and Present Danger doing there? The bloke in front of Michelle Obama and below Laura Bush: http://www.videodetective.com/photos/125/00525304_.jpg http://videoadrenalin.com/details/image/zoom-625971.html

Posted by ben2
March 5, 2009 09:14 Flag as inappropriate

truely a great picture. A great way to monitor the population. I have read a few of the picky comments and they need to be dismissed.

Posted by gpoole
March 6, 2009 20:24 Flag as inappropriate

quality is extraordinary! but why is there to you as much error on the photograph?

Posted by excelsisdei
March 16, 2009 16:31 Flag as inappropriate

The guy directly above Obama - leather hat, Burberry scarf, big smile - is a dead ringer for...? (I'm told he's a staunch Democrat, so maybe it's him)

Posted by robsi
March 19, 2009 02:42 Flag as inappropriate

מדהים

Posted by uexni
March 22, 2009 03:00 Flag as inappropriate

I really like this picture. such a masterpiece. Great work.

Posted by rrgomes_bd
April 9, 2009 00:27 Flag as inappropriate

Obamunism is the most huge waste of technology. Your kenyan mafia is making a buffoonery of the United States

Posted by what a waste
April 9, 2009 00:32 Flag as inappropriate

Why are there so many white people at a Black Power meeting?

Posted by what a waste
April 19, 2009 14:12 Flag as inappropriate

Where's Wally?

Posted by Joebap5
April 22, 2009 12:29 Flag as inappropriate

Texas_Photo: "Of all the people we see in this scene, I assure you that the one hearing President Obama the loudest and clearest and feasting on every word being said is Justice of the Supreme Court, Clarence Thomas." What a joke. This is the same guy who sexually harassed female staffers (e.g., placing pubic hairs on Anita Hill's desk and soda cans). Once appointed "Justice", "law clerks... viewed Thomas with ill-disguised contempt, questioning his qualifications and intellectual heft. Wake up Texas. Clarence is asleep during brotha Bam's speech.

Posted by Sadiedog
April 22, 2009 17:54 Flag as inappropriate

Super sweet!! Wouldn't it be cool if you could somehow put this on facebook and everyone tag it!! That would be an awesome collaborative project.

Posted by angut
April 25, 2009 19:59 Flag as inappropriate

This is a really cool use of the Gigapan. Me and my classmates at Rutgers University have used a Gigapan to capture large portions of our campus with some pretty impressive results(although not nearly as impressive as this one). If you're interested you can check out what we've done on our website at http://whereru.rutgers.edu/

Posted by RU_Group1
May 5, 2009 09:12 Flag as inappropriate

this is amazing, i wish i had one

Posted by tinkerbell_in_okla
May 21, 2009 15:32 Flag as inappropriate

its a amazing panorama .i introduced gigapan with this panorama .i told everyone about this site in my blog http://www.bahtiyarhoca.com in my language . i think this site grow very fast..

Posted by nehuse
May 29, 2009 04:04 Flag as inappropriate

Its a amazing panorama .i introduced gigapan with this panorama .i told everyone about this site in my blog http://www.emreuguz.com in my language

Posted by maystro
July 23, 2009 03:30 Flag as inappropriate

WOW !!!! this is an extraordinary ........

Posted by riteshraj
September 22, 2009 07:09 Flag as inappropriate

After seiing this i will definitly try such a panorama on the next german election day with mrs. merkel. the next election will be on sunday and hopefully she will set before that a speach in one of our cities. although there will never be as man people there as with obama...i will shortly set gigapan on http://www.borgmann-design.de with some exhibition pictures indoors and hopefully a good shot with Mrs. Merkel on the website GigaPan. feel free to visit and leave a comment.

Posted by borgmanndesign